Republican LA. Gov. Bobby Jindal’s comment earlier this week about his party’s need to “stop being stupid,” to become a single party focused on the same objectives, would be, could be so hopeful if he acts on his request, allowing it to be a standard for discussion. Regardless of whether he succeeds in the 2016 presidential campaign run-up, his putting the concept out into the collective conversation is already appreciated because stop being stupid* simply is good advice for politicians and everyone else.

The straight-forward and clear message is courageous. It nails the Big Problem saddling the GOP–stupid distractions stopping the country from focusing on real issues. Imagine if “stop being stupid” remains in our collective consciousness. If it reveals only a handful of the people and beliefs Jindal could be referring to, he has already provided a huge service to this country. Envision ongoing political discussion without anyone paying attention to:

• Glenn Beck wearing a doctor’s white coat to proclaim the elephant isn’t dying, it’s dead. Stating the party doesn’t need a bigger tent, it needs personal responsibility, Mr. Beck then goes on to do what he does best: lie. So much for personal responsibility as he quotes with the confidence of a pathological liar that non-existing scholarly research proves immigrants consistently come to the United States solely for government handouts. There is no. such. research. But how will the “Beck coalition” know if they only listen to Beck and his Fox cohorts? Stop being stupid, please. Fact check.
• Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) late January “Meet the Press” comments about how increasing gun access among poor women in urban neighborhoods could reduce violent crime. He also went on to argue that Democrats are using partisan politics in their assault weapon ban argument by exploiting the shooting in Newtown, CT.
• Missouri congressman Todd Akin’s summer “stupid” remark that stuck:  women don’t conceive if they’re raped: “It seems to me first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare,” Akin said. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” Akin said of a rape victim’s chances of becoming pregnant. SBS, please; fact check first.

These kinds of discussions are sucking the sanity out of our country. “Stop being stupid” is not only good for the Republican party. It’s good for the United States. Let’s put “stop being stupid” together with “We the people” and see if our national discourse improves. After all, we have nothing to lose.

*stupid |ˈst(y)o͞opid|adjective ( stupider, stupidest )lacking intelligence or common sense

photo credit: Lori Greig